Atlanta Looking To Lure Foreign Business

The city of Atlanta is making a push to raise its international profile and lure more overseas companies. According to this week’s Atlanta Business Chronicle, Invest Atlanta, the city’s economic development arm, wants to hire a firm to pitch the city as a destination for foreign investment and corporate expansion.

This is the first time the city is seeking outside representation for business attraction from foreign markets.

The firm will “implement tactics that will attract direct foreign investment, increase international lead generation, and enhance corporate relations for select global markets,” according to a request for proposal (RFP) issued Nov. 23. Atlanta did not disclose its budget to fund the initiative.

In the last year, several international companies representing more than 2,600 jobs have established headquarters and divisions here, noted Claire Angelle, director of the Mayor’s Office of International Affairs.

The company — which could be a global law firm or site selection consultancy — would be charged with developing a pipeline of at least 25 foreign direct investment projects resulting in 10 “wins” for Atlanta annually. Each project should achieve a measurable increase in business attraction, business expansion and foreign direct investment (FDI), resulting in a minimum $1 million investment and create 10 jobs, the RFP noted.